ArtsAutosBooksBusinessEducationEntertainmentFamilyFashionFoodGamesGenderHealthHolidaysHomeHubPagesPersonal FinancePetsPoliticsReligionSportsTechnologyTravel

Google Panda Update: How to Avoid Getting Panda Slapped

Updated on March 13, 2012

What is the Panda Update?

The Panda Update is Google's latest algorithm update and to put it in the most basic terms, it changes how google search bots rank sites. Google does similar updates several times per year, but the recent Panda Update is receiving much more attention because of it's effect on so many different sites.

Why did Google do it?

They were having a problem with scam sites, MLM schemes and low quality content farmers reaching the top ranks of google's search engines. This meant that their top searches were the lowest quality and it was turning away a lot of people from using google as their primary search engine.

This is why the Panda Update is also know as the Farmer Update, as one of it's main goals is to root out content farmers and scam artists who have reached top rank in google search.

Who should it effect?

According to google, the update should most effect content farmers who copy content and put it on their pages simply to get more adsense. It will also effect sites or pages that are full of unnecessary or irrelevant advertising. So if you've got your ad level set to high, you might want to turn it down.

Panda is also searching out low quality sites that are no better then scam sites, and is specifically looking to give original and insightful content a change to rank at the top of google search. This is great news for those that take part in freelance writing online (so long as the content is original, insightful and has low ads), though it's very bad news for businesses that have been using copied content on their blogs to rank higher.

It will also be a boon to online writers who have become used to posting their content in more then one place, as well as for content creators who are publishing shallow articles. Google will give much more generously to apparent experts and enthusiast, then it will to those who are just publishing content to rank up or earn more.

Hi ya!
Hi ya! | Source

How to avoid being Panda Slapped

Truthfully, the changes that the Panda Update are bringing, are not that hard to keep up with. It is really just requiring content creators to do what they should have been doing in the first place - writing original content that they really care about, are an expert in or at very least are able to back up. No more low quality content at the top of google searches (or so they hope to achieve).

So what can you do to avoid being Panda Slapped?

1. Don't Over-Optimize

So many companies, content creators and marketers have been focusing on trying to capture as much of googles attention as they can. While this may have previously been a good tactic, panda now makes it obsolete. So focus on a small handful of keywords that are relevant to your site and don't "over-optimize".

2. Don't Copy Content/No Duplicating

It used to be that a writer could produce an article at one site, and then re-publish it on another site to gain double the revenue. The Panda update is now ranking duplicated or copied content as lower in terms of quality. This will be a hard one for businesses that have been farming content from online writers and using it to fill up their blogs to garner attention with google search.

3. Be Original

Panda is giving original content higher markings then overly published topics or content that has clearly just been spun from other writers. This means that you'll need to be more original about your titles, content, pictures and writing.

4. Be Insightful

By being insightful, I mean that you should make sure you understand the subject you are writing about, enough to show that you know what you are talking about. So your best bet is to focus on subjects that you are an expert in, or subjects that you are highly enthusiastic about. Google wants to provide high quality content on the top of it's search pages, which means that it is going to give a pink slip to content that is shallow, irrelevant, poorly written or produced simply to be produced.

5. Use Social Networking

The panda update is unleashing google's capability to search social networks for popular content. This means that if you can get your social networking pals to browse your website, content or pages - then you'll rank higher in google searches. This is in an attempt to not only encourage self promotion and personalization, but it is also to help show content that is actually popular amongst real readers. The new algorithm assumes that if your stuff is being read by those on social networks, it must be worth more then the content not being spread around social networks. So get out there and show off what you can do!

6. Tone Down the Ads

If you've been focusing mostly on writing so that others will view your adsense, clickbank or other paid advertising, then you're going to see a drop in page views. Google's Panda update wants to root out those who are producing content simply to make money. It sucks for those that are writing passionless content simply to earn money, though it should result in better rankings for passionate writers and produce a better experience for the searcher.

7. Don't Use Link Sharing

Panda has made link sharing pretty pointless. Avoid it and you'll have less to worry about from that menacing panda bear.

8. Write Your Blog Yourself

It's no secret that many businesses have been creating blogs and buying content to put on their sites, or simply just copying content to put on their blogs. This was a cheap way to rank higher in google searchers. Though now they are going to see their rankings drop dramatically for doing such a thing. This will also affect any affiliate marketers, content creators or others who are basically doing the same thing. So if you've decided to start up a blog - whether to save your business or to get more views - make sure you are actually writing the blog yourself and not just content farming for search rankings. If nothing else, higher yourself a blogger who can make it their commitment to bring your blog original content. It's still better then content farming while panda is around.

9. Forget About Affiliate Marketing

Personally, I will be much happier to see affiliate content get the panda slap (and I'm an affiliate writer on other sites!). Way to many affiliate marketers get onto the web and start to produce pure crud in an attempt to get more sales. When I produce content, even for my affiliate sites, I try to only write a few articles that actually hold meaning and are relevant to my affiliate products - instead of producing content that was simply written to advertise my affiliate products. Through the panda update, those producing content that has a bunch of referral links, or even just one link to specifically taboo sites (such as clickbanks), will get the two handed pimp powder slap from google. MLM, scams, pyramid sites and similar sites will also be receiving this brutal take down, as they should.

10. Write Because You're Passionate About It

Panda wants to bring out the best in the world of online content. As said above, it will be focusing on those who are insightful and original. So your best bet at avoiding a panda slap, is to be original, information and relevant to the topic your writing about. Don't write just to write. Writing because you love to write and love what you are writing about.

11. Stay Updated

Google changes things all the time. No one knows how long the panda update will be in place, or how long until a newer version of panda will come along to change the game again. The best thing you can do to avoid being panda slapped, or slapped by anything else that google creates, is to keep up with the changes they are making.


What to do if you've been Panda Slapped....

In most cases, if you've been panda slapped already, you were probably doing something that you should've avoid in the first place. Though if you feel you've been wrongfully attacked by googles new panda update, then you can contact google and get some help. Just keep in mind that there are a lot of very upset content farmers, marketers, businesses and others who are upset and their new lowered rankings. They are filling up google contact lines like prank callers to the police on april fools day. It doesn't do anyone any good, but they are doing it anyways.

You can also follow the above tips (for avoiding being slapped), to get yourself back on track.

More information

The panda update is googles new big buzzword for the time being. If you are looking to understand the update more, or to find out some more information about the system, these are some informative articles that I enjoyed.

http://www.webpronews.com/google-panda-algorithm-update-2011-05

http://www.businessinsider.com/panda-slapped--googles-panda-update-changed-the-playing-field-2011-3

I hope these help =)

working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)